Orchid Biology and Intro to Hybrids

Orchids (scientifically speaking, Orchidacea) are a group of plants containing well over than 20,000 known species, quite a few of which are very valuable from a commercial standpoint. Many people believe them to be the most intriguing order of plants in the whole vegetable kingdom due to their amazing mode of growth and existence, their strange habits and the many shapes and forms of their flowers, which are different from those of all other plants -- delicate seeming in texture and with wonderful, glowing colors.

Orchids are also to be remarked upon owing to their widely admired adaptability and the extent to which they will easily cross-breed or cross-fertilize. This is true in their natural environs as well as when they are under cultivation. This fact also accounts for the practically endless varieties of flowers and colors that can result from the hybridizing process.

Here's some botany: The orchid's flower as a rule is made up of these parts: sepals, the petals, the labellum (or pouch), and the column or crest.

On most orchids the labellum is usually the most notable part as well as the most important organ of the flower. Insects crawl or fly into it in search of the sweet juices stored within the spur or walls of the flower, pollinating the plant in the process and furthering cross-fertilization in the bargain. This is how such a large number of new varieties come about in the wild, and these are the orchids that are termed natural hybrids.  But under cultivation this work must be accomplished by human caretakers using delicate camel's hair brushes and with a careful eye and judgment as to the right time for fertilization. It is in this manner that the most gorgeous hybrid orchids are produced, and these are known as garden hybrids.

One of the the things that makes growing orchids so exciting is the possibility of producing our own orchid hybrids. This takes knowledge and a good bit of patience, but even first-timers have created some astounding plants by experimenting with hybridizing.

If you're interested in experimenting with hybridizing orchids, you should first gain some good experience in basic cultivation of these plants.Only after you have gained confidence in working with orchids should you try the more demanding task of hybridizing them. Orchids are slow growing plants, and slow to produce blooms, so you must be comfortable with waiting often years to see if your hybridizing experiments are a success. Nontheless, when you do succeeed, it's fantastic experience.  You can produce not only some beautiful flowers in this way, but also orchid types never before seen in the world.

Clearly, you must gain all the knowledge that you can before trying your hand at hybridizing orchids. Fortunately, there are good books available on all aspects of orchid growing, including step-by-step instructions on hybridizing orchids.

The most thorough guide to contemporary orchid gardening, more people are finding, is Orchid Care Expert by master orchid grower Nigel Howard, which is available to be downloaded from the Internet. Mr. Howard's ebook is a full course of study, immensely practical for beginners and more experienced growers alike. In addition, check out this Orchid Secretssite, which features an ever-expanding database of information on a wide range of facets of orchid care.